Some days you just can't lose! Maine Street Jazzmen @ Rosie's.

Olive Rudd (vcl); Herbie Hudson (tmb); Jim McBriarty (alt/clt); George Richardson (pno); Alan Rudd (bs); Mike Humble (dms);

George Rico played Misty - the string synth producing a Jackie Gleason effect, Herbie added some soulful harmonica and the couple pictured danced...

A nice end to an afternoon that began with Herbie, safely home after being held hostage by his family in Turkey, got the show on the road with Rose Room. Herbie, who favours that plumber's nightmare the Bb/F trombone, handled the beast with his normal efficiency growling to great effect in a manner not unlike the MGM lion.

He's a fine player.

Olive, at various points during the afternoon, warbled I'm Crazy 'Bout my Baby, You Can Depend on me, The Best Things in Life Are Free - and maybe they are as I won a bottle of Chardonnay in the raffle! - and Jeepers Creepers.

Herbie chipped in with I Can't Believe That You're in Love With me and some wag said, "Neither can I!"

Jimmy Mack sang Smiles as well as blowing alto a la the great '30s saxman Charlie Holmes.

It was a good afternoon that included bowls of chips among the bar snacks.

Prior to the session I'd called in to South Shields' Library where the book sale in the music dept included a host of jazz books. I opted for Oscar's A Jazz Odyssey although, given that the selection included items on/by Bill Evans, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Frank, Humph, Benny Green, Nat Hentoff, Ronnie Scott and the original Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, to mention but a few, it wasn't an easy choice - and all at 80p each (hardback)!

A book of verse, a jug of wine and chips - this had been a good day!

Photos.

Lance.

PS: The music and the company wasn't bad either!